Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8538 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

3 MarCheshvan* 5723,

Brooklyn,

I greet you and bless you,

I respond to your letter of 1 Cheshvan* and to its conclusion, in which you tell me about your son. You will therefore indicate to me his address and one will make, once again, an attempt (note 1: Presumably to bring him closer to Jewish practice) through the intermediary of the Chassidic* Rabbanim of Chicago, if he still resides there. Prayer and blessing are effective. Nevertheless, a Jew must, in addition, intervene through the ways of nature.

Your letter was written on the morrow of Tishrei*, a month that is satiated with all the good and, according to the expression of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, which has a general import (note 2: See, on this subject, letter no. 8224), for the entire year. This means that this satiation will be revealed in all domains, including for what concerns you and also for the entire year. With my blessing to give good news of all this,

N. B.: You ask me the meaning of the expression: "undesirable thoughts that flow from melancholy" (note 3: According to what the Rebbe* had written to the addressee of the present letter). One must understand this in the simple sense and in accordance with what my father-in-law (note 4: See letter no. 988, as well as the Igros Kodesh* of the Rebbe Rayatz*, volume 5, letter no. 1493), the Rebbe*, wrote regarding (note 5: The Mishnah* of tractate Avos*): "You live against your will." This refers to the situation of the man who is devoid of joy and enthusiasm, although every Jew begins his day by reciting the morning blessings, which start with Modeh Ani*: "I give thanks to You." Then, one repeats, on many occasions, "blessed are You," which clearly means that a blessing is necessary and that there is cause to thank Hashem, that one must, furthermore, trust Him for all that He will accomplish for your son.